Khalid al-Qasri when al-Mughirah and his companions were ushered in. A couch had been set up for him inside the mosque; he sat upon it and then ordered that one of al-Mughirah’s men be taken and his neck struck. He next said to al-Mughirah ibn Saʿīd, “Bring him back to life”—for al-Mughirah used to claim that he could resurrect the dead. Al-Mughirah replied, “By Allah—may Allah set you right—I do not raise the dead.” Khalid said, “You will bring him back to life or I shall strike your neck as well.” He answered, “By Allah, I have no power to do that.” Khalid then called for a bundle of reeds, which they set ablaze, and said to al-Mughirah, “Embrace it.” He refused, but one of his own followers rushed forward and clasped it. Abū Bakr said, “I watched the fire consume him while he was stirring it with his index finger.” Khalid remarked, “By Allah, this man is more deserving of leadership than you,” and he had al-Mughirah’s followers put to death.

Al-Madāʾinī related: A man who had proclaimed himself a prophet in Kūfah was brought before Khalid ibn ʿAbd Allah. He was asked, “What is the sign of your prophethood?” He answered, “Scripture has been sent down to me.” They said, “What is it?” He recited:

“Indeed, We have granted you al-jamāhir;
so pray to your Lord and do not proclaim aloud,
and obey not every unbeliever or profligate.”

Khalid ordered that he be crucified. While he was upon the cross he declaimed:

“Indeed, We have granted you the pole;
so pray to your Lord upon a piece of wood,
and I guarantee you that you will never return.”

Al-Mubarrad narrated: Khalid was presented with a young man who had been found inside some people’s house and accused of theft. Khalid questioned him; he confessed, and Khalid ordered that his hand be cut off. A beautiful woman stepped forward and said:

O Khalid, by Allah you have surely acted in blindness (1)
—and the poor lover among us is no thief.
He confessed to what he never did, save that
he deemed the severing of a hand better
than the scandal of a lovesick youth. (2)

Khalid then summoned her father, married her to that young man, and on his behalf assigned her a dowry of ten thousand dirhams.

Al-Aṣmaʿī said: A Bedouin once entered upon Khalid and said, “I have composed two verses in your praise, and I will not recite them except for ten thousand dirhams and a servant.” Khalid replied, “Very well.” The Bedouin recited:

You have clung to “Yes” so firmly that it is as if
you had never heard aught in this world but “Yes.”
And you have denied “No” so totally that it is as if
you had never heard of it in ages past and nations gone.

Khalid ordered that he be given ten thousand dirhams and a servant to carry them.

He (al-Aṣmaʿī) also said: A Bedouin entered upon Khalid, who said to him, “Ask for your need.” The Bedouin replied, “One hundred thousand.” Khalid said, “You have asked for a great deal—reduce it.”